“Once or twice, he stole things from home to sell and buy drugs” - When Cristiano Ronaldo’s old neighbour shed light on Portugal star’s brother Hugo
Cristiano Ronaldo's story from humble beginnings to becoming a global icon is no secret. Growing up in Madeira, Portugal, with financial constraints, his passion for football led him to achieve things one could only dream of.
Having such a modest background, stories of struggle and cutting corners are commonplace. One such story shared by Ronaldo's old neighbor highlighted the difficulties his family went through and how it affected Hugo, the Al Nassr superstar's brother.
"Hugo [Cristiano's brother] tried drugs, and he got hooked. Once or twice, he stole things from home to sell and buy drugs," the neighbour, Joao Ornelas, said as reported by the Sun in 2021.
The shocking revelation gives fans an insight into Ronaldo's childhood and brings newfound respect for the five-time Ballon d'Or winner on how he was able to stay true to his talent and not get sidetracked.
Neighbor explains why Cristiano Ronaldo got lucky and Hugo didn't
Cristiano Ronaldo, 10 years younger than his brother Hugo, moved from Madeira to Lisbon to join the Sporting CP academy and focus on his football career at 12.
The neighbor mentioned how the move helped the Portuguese superstar carve out a more disciplined and focused path than his brother.
"Ronaldo got lucky; Hugo had bad luck. The difference is that Hugo always lived here in the neighbourhood. Ronaldo went to Lisbon when he was only 12," shared the neighbour in the same interview.
Ornelas highlighted that everything changed for Ronaldo when he realized that his family depended on him.
"He [Cristiano] had more comfort than he had here on this street. He had other people looking after him," added Ornelas. "He had rules that he had to follow. Everything changed in that moment."
Hugo was also a promising footballer as a youngster. Unfortunately for him, he took to drinks and drugs that consumed his life in the late 90s. Hugo followed in the footsteps of his father, Jose Dinis Aveiro, who passed away in 2005. Dinis battled an alcohol addiction throughout his life, something that Cristiano Ronaldo's elder brother also fell prey to.
Hugo, however, was able to go sober and leave that life behind, largely thanks to the support provided by Ronaldo. The neighbor who shared the story about his drug addiction also highlighted that Hugo is now sober.
"But, nowadays he's [Hugo] OK. He's a nice guy. He's clean," Ornelas confirmed.
Hugo now manages the Cristiano Ronaldo museum in Madeira, Portugal.